Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Join the discussion about the Blues.

[Complete Blues coverage on STLtoday.com]

Moderators: STLtoday Forum Moderators, Blues Talk Moderators

John Cocktoastin
Forum User
Posts: 802
Joined: 23 May 2024 14:00 pm

Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by John Cocktoastin »

"That trade, you're just like, for me personally, I didn't want out," Oshie said speaking from St. Louis before calling a game on ESPN+ and Hulu last week. "I wanted to retire a Blue. You guys know what the alumni association's here, the alumni presence. I wanted to be a part of that. So I just felt defeated almost when the trade happened."

"I was honestly upset until probably my retirement speech honestly," Oshie said. "That's how long I was mad about this trade. I think just because I personally felt like I gave the team everything I could give them on the ice. On the ice, I did everything I thought I possibly could. I thought I played exactly like the coaches wanted me to at all times.

"When you're not winning, when you're not getting over that hump, it's always like, 'What is it? Why can't we do this?' And when you're the guy that gets traded, you're like, 'Holy ... like they think I was the problem?' That's why we didn't win, and you're like, 'Shoot.' You have whatever feelings you have about that. I was pretty upset about it."

Link
netboy65
Forum User
Posts: 2203
Joined: 23 May 2024 12:54 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by netboy65 »

Yeah, well, you throw your coach under the bus to the media and right or wrong, that’s what happens.
MiamiLaw
Forum User
Posts: 2291
Joined: 23 May 2024 13:16 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by MiamiLaw »

netboy65 wrote: 03 Feb 2026 19:11 pm Yeah, well, you throw your coach under the bus to the media and right or wrong, that’s what happens.
Especially after yet another pathetic playoff performance. I like Oshie good enough but his run with the Blues was littered with failure in big games
Pierre McGuire
Forum User
Posts: 2247
Joined: 23 May 2024 13:10 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by Pierre McGuire »

MiamiLaw wrote: 03 Feb 2026 19:14 pm
netboy65 wrote: 03 Feb 2026 19:11 pm Yeah, well, you throw your coach under the bus to the media and right or wrong, that’s what happens.
Especially after yet another pathetic playoff performance. I like Oshie good enough but his run with the Blues was littered with failure in big games
He’s in very good company then
MiamiLaw
Forum User
Posts: 2291
Joined: 23 May 2024 13:16 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by MiamiLaw »

Pierre McGuire wrote: 03 Feb 2026 19:36 pm
MiamiLaw wrote: 03 Feb 2026 19:14 pm
netboy65 wrote: 03 Feb 2026 19:11 pm Yeah, well, you throw your coach under the bus to the media and right or wrong, that’s what happens.
Especially after yet another pathetic playoff performance. I like Oshie good enough but his run with the Blues was littered with failure in big games
He’s in very good company then
lol true
John Cocktoastin
Forum User
Posts: 802
Joined: 23 May 2024 14:00 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by John Cocktoastin »

I remember something happened with missing a practice (not the first young player to do so) and it pissing the veterans off. And the playoff performances. Still a great Blue. Seems like he still is, in fact.

Either way...

Oshie ---> Brouwer/3rd rounder ---> used 3rd rounder to trade up for Thompson ---> O'Reilly ---> Cup

He helped the Caps and the Blues win a Cup.
The Average Gatsby
Forum User
Posts: 260
Joined: 04 Jun 2025 15:44 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by The Average Gatsby »

John Cocktoastin wrote: 03 Feb 2026 19:44 pm I remember something happened with missing a practice (not the first young player to do so) and it pissing the veterans off. And the playoff performances. Still a great Blue. Seems like he still is, in fact.

Either way...

Oshie ---> Brouwer/3rd rounder ---> used 3rd rounder to trade up for Thompson ---> O'Reilly ---> Cup

He helped the Caps and the Blues win a Cup.
Lol I didn’t know those 2 trades were connected. The Oshie return was probably the worst trade Armstrong made so I’m glad it worked out in the end.
TheJackBurton
Forum User
Posts: 3088
Joined: 23 May 2024 12:43 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by TheJackBurton »

The Average Gatsby wrote: 03 Feb 2026 19:57 pm
John Cocktoastin wrote: 03 Feb 2026 19:44 pm I remember something happened with missing a practice (not the first young player to do so) and it pissing the veterans off. And the playoff performances. Still a great Blue. Seems like he still is, in fact.

Either way...

Oshie ---> Brouwer/3rd rounder ---> used 3rd rounder to trade up for Thompson ---> O'Reilly ---> Cup

He helped the Caps and the Blues win a Cup.
Lol I didn’t know those 2 trades were connected. The Oshie return was probably the worst trade Armstrong made so I’m glad it worked out in the end.
The Blues needed a veteran who had been through the trenches and could come up big in big games because at that time they had no one other than Steen really.

They get Brouwer and wham bang thank you Ma'am they go to the Western Conference finals.

The return may not have been what we wanted, but Troy Brouwer was an absolute need and was one of the reasons 2019 happened.
TheJackBurton
Forum User
Posts: 3088
Joined: 23 May 2024 12:43 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by TheJackBurton »

Also, I can imagine in another year or two of broadcasting Oshie likely replaces Vitale.
sdaltons
Forum User
Posts: 4013
Joined: 23 May 2024 12:45 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by sdaltons »

TheJackBurton wrote: 03 Feb 2026 21:51 pm Also, I can imagine in another year or two of broadcasting Oshie likely replaces Vitale.
Fingers crossed bigly
bluetunehead
Forum User
Posts: 1397
Joined: 23 May 2024 14:28 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by bluetunehead »

TheJackBurton wrote: 03 Feb 2026 21:51 pm Also, I can imagine in another year or two of broadcasting Oshie likely replaces Vitale.
While I’d welcome the change, Oshie would have to want it. He’s already on ESPN and doing well. Not sure going to a regional network makes sense as a career move.
Cahokanut
Forum User
Posts: 514
Joined: 15 Jun 2024 06:19 am

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by Cahokanut »

John Cocktoastin wrote: 03 Feb 2026 18:26 pm "That trade, you're just like, for me personally, I didn't want out," Oshie said speaking from St. Louis before calling a game on ESPN+ and Hulu last week. "I wanted to retire a Blue. You guys know what the alumni association's here, the alumni presence. I wanted to be a part of that. So I just felt defeated almost when the trade happened."

"I was honestly upset until probably my retirement speech honestly," Oshie said. "That's how long I was mad about this trade. I think just because I personally felt like I gave the team everything I could give them on the ice. On the ice, I did everything I thought I possibly could. I thought I played exactly like the coaches wanted me to at all times.

"When you're not winning, when you're not getting over that hump, it's always like, 'What is it? Why can't we do this?' And when you're the guy that gets traded, you're like, 'Holy ... like they think I was the problem?' That's why we didn't win, and you're like, 'Shoot.' You have whatever feelings you have about that. I was pretty upset about it."

Link
It was more about loyalty to Army. Then play.
It's like that with any wannabe strongman.

Army is a disgusting human.
dr0zombie
Forum User
Posts: 314
Joined: 24 May 2024 17:36 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by dr0zombie »

John Cocktoastin wrote: 03 Feb 2026 18:26 pm "That trade, you're just like, for me personally, I didn't want out," Oshie said speaking from St. Louis before calling a game on ESPN+ and Hulu last week. "I wanted to retire a Blue. You guys know what the alumni association's here, the alumni presence. I wanted to be a part of that. So I just felt defeated almost when the trade happened."

"I was honestly upset until probably my retirement speech honestly," Oshie said. "That's how long I was mad about this trade. I think just because I personally felt like I gave the team everything I could give them on the ice. On the ice, I did everything I thought I possibly could. I thought I played exactly like the coaches wanted me to at all times.

"When you're not winning, when you're not getting over that hump, it's always like, 'What is it? Why can't we do this?' And when you're the guy that gets traded, you're like, 'Holy ... like they think I was the problem?' That's why we didn't win, and you're like, 'Shoot.' You have whatever feelings you have about that. I was pretty upset about it."

Link
I will put on my Oshie jersey for this comment. He was in my mind a perfect Blue. His play was what I envision as being a Blue. Oshie needed to mature as a player and as a person. The trade was one way to accomplish that for him. Not what I wanted as a fan, but it was what worked for Oshie and for the Blues. I can't change the past, but I am glad to see him around and would like to see him involved in the retool. There is a lot of wisdom and learning that Oshie can share.
TheJackBurton
Forum User
Posts: 3088
Joined: 23 May 2024 12:43 pm

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by TheJackBurton »

bluetunehead wrote: 03 Feb 2026 22:55 pm
TheJackBurton wrote: 03 Feb 2026 21:51 pm Also, I can imagine in another year or two of broadcasting Oshie likely replaces Vitale.
While I’d welcome the change, Oshie would have to want it. He’s already on ESPN and doing well. Not sure going to a regional network makes sense as a career move.
True, but since his wife is from here and as far as I know her family is still here, that can be a pretty good reason.
Old_Goat
Forum User
Posts: 993
Joined: 28 Dec 2024 08:46 am

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by Old_Goat »

TheJackBurton wrote: 04 Feb 2026 07:52 am
bluetunehead wrote: 03 Feb 2026 22:55 pm
TheJackBurton wrote: 03 Feb 2026 21:51 pm Also, I can imagine in another year or two of broadcasting Oshie likely replaces Vitale.
While I’d welcome the change, Oshie would have to want it. He’s already on ESPN and doing well. Not sure going to a regional network makes sense as a career move.
True, but since his wife is from here and as far as I know her family is still here, that can be a pretty good reason.
That is correct.
Also, certainly the ESPN exposure and pay is great, but the thing to consider for any fresh face on those national networks is that unless they are a Hall-Of-Famer, or have an entertainment persona (take Pang for example), then their "shelf space" is relatively short-lived until the next high profile, large market Star retires. Oshie is comfortably retired from what I believe he considers to have been his primary career. The quality & balance of life for the regional post-retirement broadcast job is appealing to keep so many of them close to the game and friends whom are part of what they are, know & love.
So, when this ride is over with him, then hopefully she brings him home! (Selfishly for us fans here, I hope it's soon...we need it.)
moose-and-squirrel
Forum User
Posts: 6101
Joined: 20 Dec 2020 10:49 am

Re: Oshie: I didn't want out. I wanted to retire a Blue.

Post by moose-and-squirrel »

maybe show up to a game sober once in a while
Post Reply